I try to keep this family friendly. So I hope everyone has fun with the family today. And if that's not possible, at least get together with friends.
One this one day, we are a very large family. It's hard to believe that something new was started in 1776.
That was still many generations later then when Europeans stated coming here in boats. It had already been settled using the land bridge on the West, but it was the folks that arrived on the East Coast that set up a new government that we call the United States today. I had parts of my family that landed in 1620 in Plymouth. And here we are almost 400 years later. Wow!

I just looked that up the Seattle news. Man arrested with a stolen truck and weapons.

I was a little worried being at a big 4th with my son's band playing. By the time of the fireworks there was barely standing room in the park.

Here is the US; we try to keep religion out of politics, hoping that everyone can practice theirs peacefully and with respect for others.
I come from seven kids, all thinking differently, and it can be loud when we get together, but we also enjoy the differences.

I
The US has always believed in the freedom to practice your religion. There is no State religion here.

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But that's very different than keeping it out of politics. Talk to a devote republican and some religion will spring its ugly head sooner or later ever time.
Have you looked at the writing on a dollar bill? "In God We Trust" ??? And they call that a separation of church and state??? Huh?

We also have freedom of speech.

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Sort of.. A lot more than others that's for sure.. but its not complete freedom anymore..

There are those that would like to impose a religion though. Not by law, but by their opinon. Like somehow they know "best" for others.

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Again, go talk to a republican and watch how fast they try to pass laws based on their religions.

Where were you raised?

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I was born and raised in a distant and strange land far far away.. Most folks call it Detroit..

I was born and raised in a distant and strange land far far away.. Most folks call it Detroit..

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You guys in Detroilt are taking a beating.
It would be nice start up that place, what with all the housing and stuctures in place already. In the Seattle area, we are way short on roads, and the commute is extending both ways now. Even staggering work hours isn't helping much.
Seattle has the sound on the West, Lake Washington on the East, then you have Bellevue, with Lake Sammamish on the East of that. Add to all of that, a pretty hilly area, and we can barely drive around it anymore.

I think it's strange that religion is used in politics at all. Somebody somewhere, showhow, figured it was a way to sway a vote.
I would like to see votes based more on jobs and living quality. I don't see how religion would figure into that, but somebody always finds a way to stick it in there.

I visited India this Winter, home to many world religions. And they add a few more for good measure. They seem to be pretty easy going about it. Like in the US, there seems to be a temple, church or gathering place on every corner. It was one of my favorite trips I've done.

You guys in Detroilt are taking a beating.
I would like to see votes based more on jobs and living quality. I don't see how religion would figure into that, but somebody always finds a way to stick it in there.

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I'm not actually in Detroit.. On the very rare occasion I have to go there, I take a friend and we both take guns.
I'm actually about 90 minutes north of Detroit in farm country.

My vote isn't swayed by religion or jobs or even living quality. My vote goes to the candidate who is most in line with science and logic. Unfortunately, that usually means I have to go with a democrat.. I say it is unfortunate because every time I go to vote, I don't feel like I'm voting for someone I want, I feel like I'm voting against someone I don't want. This is the state of our union now. Republicans and Democrats are so polarized these days they have poisoned everything. The problem is that the media won't give equal coverage to an independent candidate and so they have no chance of winning.

American's think they are voting for the person they want but in fact, your just being given a narrow choice between two candidates the media wants.

American's think they are voting for the person they want but in fact, your just being given a narrow choice between two candidates the media wants.

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It's been years since we had a televised debate with parties other then the mainstream two.
And then it was clamped down on. Almost like someone with lots of money decided that there were certain issues that would no longer be discussed.
Some of the discussion is pretty out there now. It's almost like they want us fighting over nothing, or to me it seems like nothing.
Many of the issues should be personal choices. My life is complicated enough without worrying about what my neigbors are thinking or doing in their off hours. If you want to hunt, then hunt. If you want to plant trees, do that. If you want to go to a church, do it, but don't expect others to be there with you.
Some of those things were considered basic freedoms at one time. And it's nobody elses business anyway.
I do like a quiet neigborhood after 10:00 PM. That makes me happy. And I like to hike in the Summer and ski in the Winter. It doesn't take much to make it a good day.

We used to do some farming on the Eastern part of the state in the 70's. That was a challenge.

Just after 10pm eh? I moved out into the country to a house that sits 600 feet back behind trees from a lightly traveled dirt road because I like quiet. I can occasionally hear a Harley out in the distance if someone cracks the throttle but other than that, its mostly song birds, chickens, and my dog. (and sometimes the wife)...

Its quiet, private, and I can do pretty much anything I want so long as the debris field stays within a 1/2 mile.

Update on Ian and I.... we finally tired of all that reggae and young girls in grass skirts. The Tequila was starting to make us forget which way to turn a pipe for in's or out's. Decided to head for Kiev, where I have an ex-wife with a little country home - luckily well outside the main square. So now its Vodka, and Slavic girls with fur hats a good part of the year. But it's a Dr. Zhivago life at its best moment! We are changing out the Rusky shelf toilets for some Slovak fake Toto's, when not cavorting with those girls that wish to get out before Stalin [Putlin] moves in. Maybe Terry can add a link to you tube Beatles..... "Those Ukraine girls really knock me out!"